Body-on-frame bumper step pad with seal between bumper beam and radiator grill

Abstract

A front bumper step for a vehicle includes a step portion and a gap seal configured to prevent a flow of air through a gap defined between a front bumper fascia of the vehicle and a front grille assembly of the vehicle. The gap seal may be provided as an integral unit with a step pad portion of the front bumper step portion. The vehicle may include an active grille shutter system, and the front grille assembly may be an upper grille assembly. The gap seal may be fabricated of a flexible material.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A front bumper step for a vehicle, comprising:
 a step portion having a step pad portion, wherein the step pad portion is fabricated of slip-resistant material; and 
 a gap seal configured to prevent a flow of air through a gap defined between a front bumper fascia of the vehicle and a front grille assembly of the vehicle, 
 wherein the gap seal is provided as an integral unit with the step pad portion. 
 
     
     
       2. A vehicle including the front bumper step of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. The front bumper step of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes an active grille shutter system. 
     
     
       4. The front bumper step of  claim 1 , wherein the gap seal is fabricated of a flexible material. 
     
     
       5. The front bumper step of  claim 1 , wherein the front grille assembly is an upper grille assembly. 
     
     
       6. A front bumper and grille assembly for a vehicle, including a gap seal configured to prevent a flow of air through a gap defined between a front bumper fascia of the bumper and the grille assembly, wherein the gap seal is co-located with a step pad superimposed on a front bumper step element. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the grille assembly is an upper grille assembly. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle including the assembly of  claim 6 . 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the gap seal and the step pad are an integral unit. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the vehicle includes an active grille shutter system. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the gap seal is fabricated of a flexible material. 
     
     
       12. A front bumper step pad for a vehicle, comprising:
 a step pad portion positioned on a front bumper fascia of the vehicle; and 
 a gap seal portion configured to prevent a flow of air through a gap defined between the front bumper fascia of the vehicle and a front grille assembly of the vehicle, wherein the front grille assembly is an upper grille assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. The front bumper step pad of  claim 12 , wherein at least the gap seal portion is fabricated of a flexible material. 
     
     
       14. A vehicle including the front bumper step pad of  claim 12 . 
     
     
       15. The front bumper step pad of  claim 12 , wherein the gap seal portion and step pad portion are an integral unit. 
     
     
       16. The front bumper step pad of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle includes an active grille shutter system.